Can I legally practice my part time business while on mat leave+on SMP only?

[shirlls]

As the title asks really. I am planning to start my own part time therapies business soon, I go back to work part time at the end of April and I am currently starting 3 months of SMP only. I am really skint and was wondering if I could legally start at the moment as long as I work under a certain number of hours?

I will phone the tax office and ask this, but would just be good to know before I speak to them roughly what the situation is. I have left messages with business gateway but it would seem that they don't return calls and emails.

Thanks in advance

 

[My_First]

Yes you may, and I don't believe there is a limit to hours you can work. However, bear in mind that you will have to register yourself as self employed and do an annual tax return. Your SMP is taxable and so any self employment will be taxable too.

Info here: https://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/ni17a-a-guide-to-maternity/

 

[suzib76]

I thought I answered this hours ago??

The rules for having 2 employers are that you can claim SMP from job 1 and still work job 2, IF you have been working job 2 since week 15 of pregnancy

Not sure how you would stand with job 2 being a self employed position, but if the same rules applied you wouldn't be able to start up a new business

 

[My_First]

You can start up a new business self employed while on smp. The link from the depth explains that you can. It's only if you are already self employed and claiming maternity allowance that you cannot work self employed beyond your keep in touch days .

 

[My_First]

This is all if course on the proviso that there is nothing written into your current employment contract that states you can't work another job while employed with them etc.

 

[shirlls]

I thought I answered this hours ago??

You did, the same thread was posted in General Chatter which you replied to

 

[suzib76]

I thought I answered this hours ago??

You did, the same thread was posted in General Chatter which you replied to

Haha thanks i thought it had disappeared